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It was supposed to be an ordinary boring day when he was not expecting a case. He would feed the cat, clean the apartment, check on the renters and their needs, take a short nap, then wait for Toto to arrive from work.
But it was not a boring day.
The phone rang, and displayed Amamiya's name. Strange. Normally she ordered via SMS, sometimes via messenger apps. She was busy at work after all and getting sweets delivered did not need a call.
"Kamonohashi Sweets, may I take your order?"
"Kamo'o-san! Is...Is Isshiki there?"
Amamiya was frantic. This was bad. "Unfortunately, no. Should I be looking for him?"
"Yes, please! If he's not at your place he's probably back at his apartment, but I need to be sure. Please?"
Ron already knew Amamiya fussed over Toto, but this level of fussing meant something was really wrong. "Isn't he at work at this time? He's usually here after work."
"Well he WAS at work yesterday, but stuff happened. He hasn't reported for work today. And when he's like that..."
"Alright. I'll go there. I'll keep you posted."
Ron showered and dressed quickly. He petted the cat and put in the cat food, expecting he would be gone the whole day. He took out one of his larger shopping bags, filled it with cooking supplies, a bag of ground coffee...and several packets of brown sugar syrup for himself. He also took up a book to read. He was ready for a long wait, though he was not sure the book would be read.
He then headed out, toward Toto's apartment.
He quickly found his way to the exact door. He then used one of his lesser known skills: lockpicking. In this manner he quietly opened Toto's door, and let himself in.
The whole apartment unit was dark, he had to switch on the living room lights as he entered. Everything in Toto's unit was in place, but then Toto generally kept the place neat. What was worrisome was Toto was not immediately available.
He lowered his grocery bag onto the dining table. The kitchen was also dark, with no signs of food recently eaten or dishes recently washed. Ron sighed. He checked the shelves; Toto was practically out of supplies. He checked the refrigerator: also out of food.
He now headed to the bedroom.
He found a large mound covered by a blanket, groaning softly.
Ron approached, slowly sat down on the bed. "Toto? Are you alright?" Ron saw some movement from under the blanket but no groans and no words. He opened up the blanket to reveal Toto's head. Toto's eyes were closed but he seemed very disturbed. He tried shaking Toto at the shoulders. "Toto? Are you okay? Are you sick? Do you have a fever? Can I get you anything?"
But Toto took up the blanket, and threw it over his head. He curled up and cocooned even more. "My fault...my fault..."
"Seriously, Toto, are you sick? Can I help you with something? What's the matter?" He felt at Toto's head over the blanket, but it did not seem warm. The breathing he heard was even and did not sound harsh. He did not even hear any sniffles. "Toto? How do I help you? Toto!"
"Need...sleep..."
Something registered with Ron. He knew about feeling like that, knew it very well. This feeling of the pain in your head being so much that you want the endorphins to flood, and along with it rapidly take you to sleep and keep you asleep. He knew that very well.
"I understand. I hate it that I understand, but I do." Ron patted Toto's head over the blanket. "I'm just here."
Toto curled up even more underneath the blanket, as Ron felt him sinking deeper into disturbed sleep. But it was already well into the morning, and Toto was forcing himself to sleep. Ron only ever saw Toto like this when he was honestly sick, either physically with a fever or a cold, or mentally often due to a long succession of hard work. This was one of the worst he had seen Toto. Toto was not even registering that Ron was in the room, it was that bad.
His phone rang again. He heard a deep groan from under the bed, and saw a tighter ball. Ron quickly headed out of the bedroom to take the call.
It was Amamiya. "Kamonohashi Sweets, may I take your order?" Ron asked, cautiously.
"Is Isshiki at his apartment?"
Ah, Amamiya. Always direct, kind and concerned in her stern way. "Yes, I'm at his apartment unit and he is here."
Amamiya gave out a deep sigh of relief. "How is he?"
"Not good, for the moment."
Another deep sigh. "Please take care of him for now, Kamo'o-san."
"What happened, Amamiya-kun?"
"Apologies, Kamo'o-san, I'm still conducting my own investigation. I'll get back to you. For now, please keep an eye on him."
She ended the call.
Toto groaned again from under the blanket. Ron patted his head. "Toto. I believe in Amamiya, I believe in you. If she's investigating, she's on your side, whatever happened."
Toto sighed, curled up even more. He remained buried under the blanket.
Ron took a deep breath. Carefully, he crawled onto the free space on the bed, behind Toto. He slowly wriggled into place, and lay down beside Toto. He leaned his head onto Toto's shoulder, and wrapped his arms around Toto's waist as far as the blanket would allow.
"Tired."
"It's okay, Toto, I'm just here."
Toto gave a deep sigh, but also settled around Ron's torso and arms. Slowly Ron felt Toto falling into more peaceful sleep.
##
Two hours passed as Toto slept on, groaning and muttering "My fault, my fault".
Ron embraced him tighter. "Rest, Toto. I don't think anything is your fault."
"My fault, my fault..."
"I believe in you Toto, and I don't think you did anything wrong."
Ron's phone vibrated in his pocket. He lifted it out and found Spitz calling. He carefully removed himself from Toto and headed to the living room. "Yeah, Spitz?"
"Hey, Ron, I'm at your place, where are you?"
"I'm at Toto's flat, you know where it is I suppose?"
"Yes, I do." A moment's silence. "Tototo is feeling off?"
Ron sighed. "Yes. Amamiya is investigating what happened."
"I see. You need anything from the grocery store?"
"Toto doesn't have a lot of supplies left."
" I understand. Could you give me a list?"
"Sure, and payment--"
"Don't worry about the money, it's Tototo. What you can do for me is write the grocery list in both English and Japanese so I don't pick the wrong things."
"Right, right. Give me a few minutes, and thank you."
Ron opened shelves and cabinets and the refrigerator again. He then listed food, vegetables, fish, milk, and other supplies Toto would need for a few days. Just enough that Toto would not have to think about it while he was out of sorts. He then sent the list to Spitz.
It was nearing lunchtime. He headed back to the bedroom. "Toto? You want to eat? It's time for lunch."
He was not answered. Toto was snoring quietly from under the blanket.
Ron breathed in relief. "That's good, go rest. I'll eat lunch for a bit, okay?"
Ron just opened a packet of instant noodles for himself and prepared it quickly. He would have done more if Toto was awake to eat, but clearly he would have to do it for dinner. He ate the instant noodles alone, wondering what happened in the office to make Toto sunk like that.
He had been made aware of Toto's reputation before he began to change it. But along the way he realized that some of that poor reputation was undeserved. Toto had been berated too much that he had lost a lot of confidence, which then fueled more mistakes. Kiku-san and Amamiya tried to help where they could but even they wondered if Toto was worth fighting for.
When Toto was allowed to be himself, with people supporting him, he flourished. When people believed in him, it made him capable.
Something happened in the office. Someone shot him down, and Ron did not know why.
Ron planned out dinner while slurping on a packet of brown sugar syrup. Not too much, mostly soup, something warm but not too heavy. He had noodles ready in case, but he would wait for Toto to ask.
Ron heard several firm knocks on the main door. He walked to the door and opened it.
Spitz grinned. "I have the groceries."
"Thank you." Ron let him in, taking one of the shopping bags.
Spitz peeked into the bedroom. "How...is he?"
Ron sighed. "Whatever happened, he took it hard."
"You want me to investigate?"
"I sense Amamiya is on top of it, it looks like an internal situation rather than his mistake," Ron said. "Let's just sort the groceries."
Spitz nodded. "By the way, I ran into our smart lady friends, so I told them."
"Chicory and the doc?"
"Yes. They might come over later."
Spitz was a master of stealth, even when it was sorting groceries. Food supplies silently and wordlessly went into their places, Ron pointing out where Toto likely placed what. Vegetables, fish and milk went into the refrigerator. The rest was sorted into shelves and cabinets.
Soon enough the kitchen was restocked with supplies. Ron and Spitz then sat down for coffee, waiting quietly.
"He feels things too hard," Spitz said. "But that makes him a very kind person."
Ron nodded. "I wish I can help more, though."
"Y-You're...here?"
Ron and Spitz turned, and found Toto.
"Why?"
"Because we're worried about you," Ron said. Spitz grinned at Toto.
Toto lowered his disheveled head. "Sorry."
"What for? You want food? I can make you some soup? Or a sandwich?"
Toto shook his head. "Tired."
"You still need to eat, though."
Toto shook his head. "Thank you. That you're here." He then began to drag himself back to bed.
They heard several knocks on the main door. Spitz smiled. "Must be the smart ladies." He headed for the door.
"But...but...I look...awful..." Toto mumbled.
The door opened. It was indeed Chicory and Dr. Mofu.
The doctor's breath caught for a moment, then she smiled kindly. "It's okay, Isshiki-san, we are here for you."
Toto sunk his head again. "Sorry."
"Nothing to apologize for, Detective Isshiki," Chicory added, raising a take-out bag. "We brought sushi. Late lunch?"
"Great," Ron said. "Thank you to you both. I'll make miso."
Spitz gently led Toto to the sofa and sat him down, as Ron started preparing for the soup. The ladies took out the sushi box from the takeout bag, distributing and arranging the chopsticks. Chicory went to the kitchen as well to prepare some tea, finding the new supply Spitz bought on Ron's request.
Dr. Mofu arranged a piece each of sushi from the assortment they bought, and placed it on a saucer. She handed it to Toto along with chopsticks.
Toto stared at it and sighed. He shook his head.
Dr. Mofu patted his knee. "Maybe after some soup?"
Ron brought in the miso, in several bowls one at a time. He placed a bowl in Toto's hands. "Please?"
Toto sighed again, but did lift the bowl to sip the soup. And kept sipping. He lowered the soup bowl half-empty. "Thanks."
Dr. Mofu followed, removing the soup bowl, and placing the saucer of sushi in his hands. "Even a little, please?"
Toto did take up one piece of tuna sushi and slowly chewed, until it was gone. "Thanks."
"One more?"
Toto slowly took up an egg sushi and chewed. Then he lowered the saucer.
"Soup?" Dr. Mofu asked, placing the bowl back in his hands.
Toto took up the bowl and sipped for a bit. He lowered the bowl afterward, leaving some soup remaining.
"More?"
Toto shook his head.
Ron walked to the living room and sat beside Toto.
Toto leaned heavily on him as the others began to eat the sushi and miso as well. Toto stared blankly at them while they ate and chatted. Ron leaned Toto's head on his shoulder. He squeezed the nearest hand. Toto's eyes began to droop, until they closed.
The conversation lowered to whispers. They talked about everything except the elephant in the room: what was wrong with Toto?
"Is this about the Omotesando case?" Chicory asked in a whisper.
Ron shrugged his shoulders, Spitz and Dr. Mofu did not know what she was talking about.
Toto groaned and winced.
Ron sighed. Chicory had probably hit the right nail but he did not know about that case at all.
Ron's phone rang. Toto startled, brought up his legs and wrapped his arms around them, burying his head at his knees.
Ron looked at the display. It was Amamiya. "Kamonohashi Sweets--"
"Kamo'o-san. I need to talk to Isshiki."
"Um...well...he's..."
"Put me on loudspeaker, private detective. I need to talk to him."
Ron chuckled at Amamiya. She did have an idea of the arrangement after all, the true reason why she had a crush on him. He obeyed, pressing the button for loudspeaker mode.
"He's beside you, isn't he, Kamo'o-san."
"Yes ma'am, he is."
"Is he awake enough to pay attention?"
Ron shook Toto awake, showing him the phone. Toto opened his eyes but in a daze. "Try talking now, ma'am," Ron said.
"Detective Isshiki," Amamiya began, "I need you to listen to me."
Toto rubbed his eyes but was still rather dazed. Ron shook him a little more.
"Isshiki. I need you to focus, I need you to listen to me. This is important."
Spitz patted Toto at the shoulder. "It's okay, Tototo, we're here for you." The ladies smiled at him as well.
Toto lowered his head onto his knees again, however.
"Just try, Amamiya-kun, he's listening," Ron said.
"Isshiki. Listen to me carefully."
Toto winced and buried his head at his knees. "Go on, please," Ron spoke for him.
"Isshiki. Listen carefully. You did absolutely nothing wrong. Nothing. Do you understand?"
Toto kept curled and cocooned, his arms around his knees.
"Isshiki. You did nothing wrong. In fact, you did everything right."
Ron stared at the phone. He raised it so he could be heard. "I definitely do not doubt what you just said, Amamiya-kun, but what exactly happened?"
"Well, I had no choice but to assign Isshiki as a junior detective to senior detective Kamakura, chief of the fourth division, because it was a joint investigation," Amamiya said. "Kamakura was in charge of the case, so Isshiki did some of the interviewing and evidence-gathering. Isshiki did his job and relayed info through the proper channels. Detective Isshiki," Amamiya continued. "I conducted an investigation with Kiku-san, about what happened last night. Your interviewing and evidence-gathering had NO holes in them. It was so good that you humiliated Detective Kamakura."
Toto curled up even more. But Ron stared at his phone. His eyes widened.
"Wait, that came out wrong," Amamiya said. "What I mean to say is, your evidence-gathering was so good that it was YOU who presented the clue that solved the case. It was not Detective Kamakura who did that, it was YOU."
Chicory perked up and grabbed the phone. "This is Monki Chicory of Lime Weekly. Detective Amamiya, could you repeat what you just said? It was Detective Isshiki who clinched the current Omotesando case?!"
"That is exactly what I am saying."
Chicory stood up toward Toto, took up his hands, and shook them up and down. "Detective Isshiki! You're so awesome! You're so awesome!"
Toto lifted his head, blinking several times at Chicory. "Eh? Huh?"
"Detective Isshiki! I am so proud to know you! You're so awesome!" Chicory then grabbed the phone again. "Detective Amamiya, could I get an interview with you in a few minutes? I'm not letting go of this exclusive!"
"Most gladly, Monki-san, come on over!" Amamiya said. "Isshiki, listen to me. Kamakura scolded you to hell and back because he didn't want anyone stealing his thunder. He didn't want it spread in the force and to the media that he was not the one who properly solved the case. The case was practically handed to him solved. He didn't anyone to realize that the case was solved because of YOU. Nothing was your fault. In fact, you were the one who gave the clue that solved the case."
Ron placed an arm around Toto's shoulders. "Detective Isshiki, you did great work, okay?"
Chicory wrapped her own arms around Toto. "Congratulations, detective! You're so awesome! I know about this case, I was there when they called the reporters in. I saw a bit of what you did last night. I know this case. Now I'm off to tell the country about you a bit more. Please get better, okay? We totally believe in you and what you can do."
With that, Chicory let go, grabbed her satchel and bounded for the door, leaving a stunned Toto.
Amamiya's voice came through the phone. "Is everyone else still there?"
Ron took up the phone. "Yes, Amamiya-kun, Isshiki is still here."
Amamiya continued. "Don't worry about Kamakura, Kiku-san will take care of him and will report him to the higher-ups. I'll never deck you to him ever again, and I am sorry for what happened. Isshiki, you can take the day off tomorrow, on full pay."
Toto lifted his head. "I...I can't...I'll go to work...tomorrow..."
"No, Isshiki, take the day off tomorrow, on full pay. Kamo'o-san?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"He likes soba."
"Will do, ma'am."
"Thank you again. I have to work. I believe in you, Detective." Amamiya ended the call.
Ron patted Toto's shoulders, Spitz patted Toto's knees. "You did great work, Toto," Ron said.
"Congrats! You did awesome work, Tototo!" Spitz added.
"Congratulations, Isshiki-san!" the doctor chimed. "We're proud of you!"
"Eh?" Toto stared back at them all slack-jawed. "Eh?"
"Congrats, police detective Isshiki," Ron repeated. "You did excellent work, all by yourself. In a major case, too. We never doubted you."
"Eh? Huh? But I...I..."
"Your evidence-gathering overshadowed a senior detective, that's how good you were," Ron repeated until Toto understood. "We believe in you, Toto, and you just did excellent work."
"But...but I..."
"The senior detective was covering up for his insecurity, Tototo," Spitz said. "You beat him to it, and you bore the brunt of his insecurity. But you were the better detective. You were not at fault. You did nothing wrong. Okay, Tototo?"
Dr. Mofu took up Toto's hands. "Isshiki-san. We believe in you. I have seen it myself. You are good at what you do. Please believe in yourself and what you can do."
Toto stared wildly at them all. "I...don't know...what to do..."
Dr. Mofu smiled. "For now, please rest a bit more. Your neurochemicals are going haywire. You were given quite a lot of needless stress. The cortisol is running through your system. You've been forcing endorphins of the shutdown kind. Now we're flooding you with noradrenaline and serotonin. It's okay to rest your brain some more."
Toto stared blankly at her. "Huh?"
"Your brain went from a drastic low and now we're giving you incredible news. It's okay to rest more," Ron translated.
"Huh? Okay, I guess."
"Just rest, okay? I'll call Chicory later and get details, then I'll tell you tomorrow."
Toto looked at all of them again. He slowly gave a smile. "Thank you. All of you."
Toto stood up in a daze, his eyes drooping again. Ron got up and wound an arm around Toto's waist, guiding him along as they both went back to the bedroom.
They both reached the bed. Ron sat Toto down. But Toto's eyes had fully closed again, as he fell forward, leaning heavily onto Ron's chest. Ron lay Toto down on the bed, and tucked him under the blanket.
"Ron?"
"Yeah, Toto?"
"Thank you."
Toto began to sleep deeply, and finally, peacefully, his chest rising and falling gently.
Spitz and Dr. Mofu peeked from the bedroom door. "That's good. Let's allow him to rest well," the doctor said.
"I suppose that's our cue, doc," Spitz said. "Just keep me posted. I'll take the doc home to the apartment."
"Thank you, Fire-san," Dr. Mofu said. "He will be fine soon, Kamonohashi-san. It's good he has someone like you."
Ron grew warm at the cheeks. "Thank you as well. I will keep you posted."
Spitz waved, Dr. Mofu gave her bows, then they headed off.
Ron breathed in relief. Finally Toto looked peaceful in sleep. No mumbling, no groaning. Poor Toto probably tossed and turned last night, and he was finally catching up on lost sleep.
Ron crawled onto the bed, and settled beside Toto. He wrapped his arms around him.
"I believe in you, Toto, I always will."